Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

We all realise that emergency departments are not the ideal places for somebody in acute mental health distress. Some hospitals are able to provide alternatives. We are looking at investing more this year in crisis resolution teams in Solas cafés to support people so that the emergency department is not the first resort. We have supports open in Galway and Cork, with another to open shortly in Waterford. These Solas cafés have caused a reduction of 18% in presentations to emergency departments. We will continue to build them, but need partners to do so. We need mental health organisations in particular communities. We lean heavily on peer support and lived experience for those cafés.

An audit is being conducted at the moment in respect of all emergency departments. It will include the additional staffing that will be required for a separate space. There is also an issue around the stigma associated with being filtered off to a separate area. There are two thoughts in that regard. We are considering the matter. For somebody who is psychotic, an accident and emergency department is not suitable.